Police have been forced to reassure people they will not be searching their shopping trolleys after a chief constable threatened the measure if "we don't get the compliance we would expect".

Northamptonshire Police chief constable Nick Adderley prompted criticism after saying his force was "only a few days away" from "marshalling supermarkets and checking the items in baskets and trolleys to see whether it's a legitimate, necessary item".

In remarks condemned as "outrageous" by a leading civil liberties campaigner, he also warned roadblocks would be set up if members of the public did not adhere to government guidelines designed to curb the spread of coronavirus.

"We will not, at this stage, be setting up road blocks. We will not, at this stage, start to marshal supermarkets and checking the items in baskets and trolleys to see whether it's a legitimate, necessary item.

"But again, be under no illusion, if people do not heed the warnings and the pleas I'm making today, we will start to do that."

Home Secretary Priti Patel also appeared to knock down Mr Adderley's comments, saying measures such as roadblocks and searching trolleys were "not appropriate".

"That's not appropriate, let me be clear about that," she told Talk Radio. "That is not the guidance, that is not down to the measures we've been adopting thus far."